EFCC Secures Jail Terms for Two Illegal Miners, Company, Forfeits 58.23 Tonnes of Lithium, Lead Ore
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two illegal miners and a mining company in Kwara State over unlawful possession of solid minerals, leading to the forfeiture of 58.23 tonnes of lithium and lead ore to the Federal Government.
The convicts are Abdullahi Dauda, Great River Mining Company Limited and Mohammed Aminu, a truck driver who transported the minerals.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, sentenced the defendants in two separate cases instituted against them by the EFCC.
Dauda was charged with unlawful possession of 18 tonnes of solid minerals conveyed in a truck with registration number SKK-93-XB in February 2026, without lawful authority, contrary to Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
In the second case, Great River Mining Company Limited and Aminu were charged with unlawful possession of 40.23 tonnes of lead ore allegedly linked to illegal mining activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges following their arraignment.
EFCC counsel, Innocent Mbachie and Mustapha Kaigama, subsequently urged the court to convict the defendants in line with their guilty pleas.
In his judgment, Justice Awogboro sentenced Dauda to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦1 million fine.
The court also directed the owner of the truck used to transport the 18 tonnes of lithium to pay ₦5 million into the EFCC Recovery Account, while the mineral was forfeited to the Federal Government through the Commission.
Similarly, Great River Mining Company Limited and Aminu were each sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦1 million fine.
The owner of the truck conveying the 40.23 tonnes of lead ore was also ordered to pay ₦5 million into the EFCC Recovery Account, while the mineral was forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
